“FLASH IN THE PAN”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 111, 15 May 1942, Page 5

“FLASH IN THE PAN”

NAZI OFFENSIVE SURPRISE ATTACK FAILS (Recd. 8.40 p.m.) London, May 14. The Stockholm correspondent of The Times says: Confused German talk about a secret new weapon is undoubted nonsense, possibly inspired to encourage the drooping home front, because after five days the near tact emerges that no decisive gains were obtained on the Kerch Peninsula, whereas people in Berlin certainly expected that the surprise attack would give early results. Today’s Berlin reports reflect a certain disappointment and confirm the conviction that the German experimental heavy offensive was a Hash in the pan, out it is certain the attempt will and must be repeated, because dis- .: nt of the Russians is imperative for the initiation of summer operations, which cannot be long delayed. A question being asked is: If the concentrated, long-prepared Ger-man-Rumanian effort, with the sur- . rise of improved and secret weapons, was unable to clear the Kerch Peninsula, what chance have they to preval against the main Russian armies between Kursk and the Black Sea? The Germans are dealing more fiercely with guerrillas when they are able to seize them. The Germans lat Minsk shot 150 partisans after I their capture.